Enjoy a Gothic Adventure in London & A Party and Celebrations for Jane Austen’s 250th Anniversary
How Much Is It & What's Included
Tour Cost: £ 3,950.00p/p
Single room supplement £1,035
In London at start and end of tour:
- 3 x nights 5* Threadneedles Hotel, London
- Coach transfers detailed in the itinerary, including airport collection and drop off.
- Expert guides in London
- Entrances to: Strawberry Hill House, Brompton Cemetery, Huntarian Museum, Tower of London, Highgate Cemetery, Evening visit to House of Frankenstein, Beckford’s Tower.
- Evening walking tour of Smithfield & Clerkenwell
- Two dinners: Casual dining at Threadneedles Hotel and pub dinner at Crystal Palace, Bath.
In Bath for Jane Austen Celebrations:
- 6x nights B&B at 5* Gainsborough Bath Spa
- Afternoon Tea at the Gainsborough
- Celebratory Dinner with 1x glass of fizz and 1x glass of wine or non-alcoholic drink
- 1x evening buffet
- 1x evening canapes
- 5x evening glass of fizz
- 7x talks with Jane Austen experts
- Day visit to Jane Austen House Museum, Whitchurch Silk Mill and Chawton House
- Entry to No.1 Royal Crescent Museum
- Private coach transfers for excursions to Steventon and Lacock
- Bath walking tour with Jane Austen expert
- Countryside walk with Jane Austen expert (weather permitting)
- Regency dance workshop with caller, piped music and dance helpers
- Embroidery workshop
Regency and Victorian Gothic costume hire circa £152 per costume
Your attire can be arranged in advance and delivered to your hotel and returned to Reception when checking out.
Lunches, dinners, snacks.
Confirm your booking with £1000p/p deposit
Please make your deposit by 19th December
The tour programme firsts visits London then travels onto Bath to join Spring Celebrations for Jane Austen
The Tour Programme:
Friday 4th April
We would suggest the following American Airlines/ British Airways flights, so you have the day to visit Gothic sights of London:
08:01am Depart Portland International Airport on flight BA5366 / AA2216
1:45pm Layover in Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (1 hour 20 minutes)
3:05pm Depart from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport BA1589 / AA050
6:25am (on Saturday 5th April) Arrive London Heathrow
Alternatively, you can take the direct flight that arrives into London in the afternoon:
7:15pm Depart Portland International Airport on flight BA266 / AA6962
12:45pm (on Saturday 5th April) Arrive London Heathrow
Saturday 5th April
Recommended 8am Leave London Heathrow Airport with your coach.
If you arrive in the early morning, visits will include:
Visit Strawberry Hill House where you will be met by your local guide (open 11am – 4pm).
Horace Walpole’s ‘Little Gothic Castle’ or Gothic revival villa has been open to visitors for over 250 years.
Here we would recommend a stop in the café for a light meal.
Visit Brompton Cemetery (open 7am-4pm).
Built in 1840, it is one of Britain’s oldest and most distinguished garden cemeteries and a haven for wildlife, a resting place of over 200,000 people and many impressive monuments.
Visit Lincolns Inn for the newly renovated Hunterian Museum London (open 10am–5pm).
The museum has an impressive display on the art and science of surgery from ancient times to the present day, including the extraordinary specimen collection of the 18th century surgeon anatomist John Hunter.
Check into Threadneedles Hotel, London
A 5* hotel perfectly situated in the City of London within the former Victorian City Bank.
A relaxed, casual dining meal at Threadneedles Hotel.
Evening walk of Smithfield & Clerkenwell. Your guide will take the group on a tour of ghosts, foul murder, body snatching and 18th Century horrors, which were still part of society in the early 19th Century when Northanger Abbey was written.
Sunday 6th April
Visit Tower of London (open Sunday 10 am–4:30 pm).
From the Crown Jewels to the infamous Tower ravens, experience history in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Visit Highgate Cemetery (open 10am to 5pm).
From its earliest days, the architecture of the cemetery was a source of wonder and delight, and the stories of Highgate are as diverse as the people buried here. Some of them are well-known, some are being rediscovered, and others will remain untold.
Guiding is not allowed inside the cemetery, but our London guide will provide an introduction on the coach.
Depart by coach, travelling on to Bath.
The city was founded in the 1st century AD by the Romans who used the natural hot springs as a thermal spa. In the 18th Century under the reigns of George I, II and III, it developed into an elegant spa city, famed in literature and art.
Check into The Gainsborough Bath Spa.
The Gainsborough is a luxury hotel in the heart of Bath with distinguished Georgian and Victorian façades. Named after the artist, Sir Thomas Gainsborough, the luxury hotel is centred around Spa Village and, uniquely in the UK, has the exclusive privilege of having access to the natural thermal, mineral-rich waters.
Dinner at the Crystal Palace pub with your Bath guide. Your guide will introduce you to the pub’s surroundings.
Located next to the Hanging Tree, the pub was built on the site of a Roman villa and is said to be haunted by a monk.
Please not tour details are subject to change
Monday 7th April
Arrive and welcome with tea/coffee
4pm – ‘Jane Austen’s Fiction’, a relaxed, interactive talk with Professor John Mullan. Tea /coffee will be served.
Books available to buy from Mr B’s Emporium, an award-winning independent book shop close to the Gainsborough Hotel.
6pm – a glass of fizz followed by a relaxed buffet supper during which you will have the chance to chat with local Jane Austen expert(s).
Tuesday 8th April
Morning – a Strictly Jane Austen walking tour of Bath, followed by a visit to No1 Royal Crescent Museum
Free time for lunch. (Please note, lunch is not included in the programme price.)
2pm – ‘Reintroducing Jane Austen via The Lady’s Magazine’, a talk with Professor Jennie Batchelor
3-6pm – an historic embroidery workshop, ‘Stitching a Sprig’, with expert needlewoman, Alison Larkin. You will learn the basics of Georgian embroidery styles, using stitches and techniques common during the early 19th century. (All materials will be provided.)
Early evening glass of fizz and relaxed chat with local Jane Austen expert(s)
Evening visit to House of Frankenstein
Wednesday 9th April
10am-5pm – A full day visit by private coach to the Jane Austen House Museum, Whitchurch Silk Mill and Chawton House accompanied by an expert guide. (Please note, lunch is not included in the programme price.)
7pm – ‘Gaming, Gambling and the Games Austen’s Characters Play’, a talk with Leigh Wetherall Dickson. A glass of fizz and canapes will be served.
Thursday 10th April
10am-2pm – visit to the village of Lacock by private coach with an expert guide. (Please note, lunch is not included in the programme price.)
3-4:30pm – join in a Regency Dance Workshop with a caller, piped music and dance helpers.
4.30pm – afternoon tea in the hotel restaurant
6:30pm – a talk with author Gill Hornby. A glass of fizz will be served.
Friday 11th April
10-11am – ‘Past times and Pleasures’ pleasure gardens fashions and culture,’ a talk with Sarah Jane Downing
11.30am – join Dr Moira Rudolf for a talk and – weather permitting – a guided countryside walk of the sort Jane Austen enjoyed. If it is fine, Moira will talk for approx. 30 mins and then accompany you on a two-hour walk. If wet, she will give a longer talk lasting about 1hr.
Evening – a relaxed glass of fizz with a local Jane Austen expert, followed by a celebratory Jane Austen dinner and glass of wine in the company of local Jane Austen experts.
Saturday 12th April
10am – ‘Jane Austen, Daddy’s Girl: The Life and Influence of The Revd George Austen’, a talk with Zoe Wheddon. Coffee/tea will be served.
11am – check out of the hotel
Free time in Bath
2.30pm Return to London by coach.
On the way to London, visit Beckford’s Tower
A haunted tower built by excentric novelist, William Beckford.
Late afternoon, return to London by coach.
Check into Threadneedle Hotel.
We are currently looking at evening options for this Saturday evening (at an additional cost). We can arrange a meal at an interesting location, or we can look into Theatre options.
Sunday 13th April
Day of leisure, you may wish to explore Covent Garden and the following visits nearby to shop and enjoy:
Covent Garden
Head over to Henrietta Street in Covent Garden, a fashionable area now and in Jane Austen’s day. The Dashwood sisters in Sense and Sensibility had lodgings here. This is also where Henry Austen used to live with his wife and Jane stayed here during her London sojourns in 1813 and 1814. Not far from here is the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, which also played a key role in Sense and Sensibility.
St Clement Danes Church
Dating back to the 11th century this is an historic location worth a visit in its own right. It also happens to be where Lydia Bennet and Mr. Wickham’s secret elopement takes place.
Twinings’ Tea Shop
Make a refreshing stop at London’s oldest tea shop, taste and purchase the teas that Jane Austen herself would have enjoyed – 18th century favourites included Fine Bohea tea, Good Congou tea, Good Hyfan tea, Fine Gunpowder tea. So captivated by the teas here, Austen wrote in her diary that she asked her mother and her sister, to pick up some Twinings’ tea to bring back home.
Free time to enjoy London.
Bank Station nearby (connects to all underground lines)
Liverpool Street nearby (connects to Elizabeth Line)
Monday 14th April
We would recommended American Airlines / British Airways flight:
Approx.. 10:30am Return to London Heathrow by coach.
3:30pm Depart London Heathrow Airport on flight BA267 / AA6956
5:25pm Arrive Portland International Airport
Jane Austen Celebrations Include:
You will spend five-nights at this fabulous boutique hotel.
The award-winning Gainsborough Hotel is the perfect setting for our celebrations. Nestled in the heart of the city, just moments away from some of the most significant sites in Jane Austen’s life and times, it offers luxury accommodation, historical charm and an exceptional on-site thermae spa.
Occupying two 18th century Grade II listed buildings with distinguished Georgian and Victorian façades, The Gainsborough is deeply entwined with Bath’s illustrious past and stands as a tribute to the city’s enduring legacy as a centre of culture, refinement and relaxation.
Retaining significant evidence of Bath’s illustrious history well beyond its façade, The Gainsborough Bath Spa’s name pays homage to the famed portrait and landscape artist, Sir Thomas Gainsborough, who lived in Bath between 1759 and 1774 and was a central figure in Bath society.
A relaxed interactive talk on ‘Jane Austen’s Fiction’ with John Mullan, Lord Northcliffe Professor of Modern English Literature at University College London.
A talk on ‘Reintroducing Jane Austen via The Lady’s Magazine’ by academic and author, Professor Jennie Batchelor, Head of English and Related Literature at the University of York.
Evening talk with Dr Leigh Wetherall Dickson, Associate Professor at Northumbria University on ‘Gaming, Gambling and the Games Austen’s Characters Play.’
Talk from best selling writer Gill Hornby about her celebrated novel ‘Godmersham Park’.
Talk from Sarah Jane Downing, author of ‘Pastimes and Pleasures in the Time of Jane Austen’ and ‘Fashion in the Time of Jane Austen’
.
Talk from Architectural Historian, Dr Moira Rudolf.
A talk from author Zoe Wheddon on ‘Jane Austen, Daddy’s Girl: The Life and Influence of The Revd George Austen’
Private visit to No1 Royal Crescent Museum
A guided walk of Bath with a Jane Austen expert
A day visit with an expert guide to the Jane Austen House Museum, Whitchurch Silk Mill and Chawton House
A visit to the charming village of Lacock with an expert guide
A Regency dance workshop with a caller, piped music and helpers
An embroidery workshop with expert needlewoman and historian Alison Larkin. (All materials will be provided.)
A walk in the countryside outside Bath just as Jane herself enjoyed
A celebratory Jane Austen dinner on the final day
A welcome reception on Day One and a sumptuous Afternoon High Tea Day Four.
You may wish to pay homage to the refined customs of the times and immerse yourself even further into Jane Austen’s world by taking part in these experiences dressed in period costume.
You may bring your own costume/s, or we can help with hire and arrange for a costume (or several different costumes) to be delivered to the hotel in time for your arrival. (Please note, there is an additional fee for this service. Please email to enquire.)
The Guest Speakers & Experts
John Mullan is Lord Northcliffe Professor of Modern English Literature at University College London. He has published widely on eighteenth and nineteenth-century literature and, in 2009, was one of the judges for the Man Booker Prize.
In his work, John has been a longtime champion of the achievements of Jane Austen and the impact of her writing. He is probably best known to Austen fans as the author of ‘What Matters in Jane Austen?’ (Bloomsbury, 2012). This provocative title has led to many speaking engagements at the Jane Austen Festival, the Hampshire Regency Festival and other events worldwide.
He has also contributed many articles to the Guardian that commemorate milestones in nineteenth-century fiction and his assessment of ‘Emma‘ is a particular eye-opener. He offered a fresh reading of the novel to celebrate the 200th anniversary of publication in 2015. He also published new editions of ‘Sense and Sensibility’ in 2017 and ‘Emma’ in 2022, both for Oxford World’s Classics.
John’s other books include ‘Anonymity: A Secret History of English Literature’ (Faber and Faber, 2007) and, most recently, ‘The Artful Dickens‘ (Bloomsbury, 2020). He is also a broadcaster and journalist, writing on contemporary fiction for the Guardian and is the author of ‘How Novels Work‘ (OUP, 2006).
In April 2025, as part of our programme celebrating Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary, John will be revealing challenging and entertaining analyses of Austen’s work and influence. He is also open to all questions about her life and writing.
Professor Jennie Batchelor,
Head and Professor of English and Related Literature at the University of York, is an academic, author and speaker who has written and edited several books on women’s writing, eighteenth-century dress and early women’s magazines. She also gives public lectures, writes articles and guest blogs on these subjects and can regularly be heard on podcasts, the radio and – occasionally – on TV. Her most recent books include ‘The Lady’s Magazine (1770-1832) and the Making of Literary History’ (2022) and ‘Jane Austen Embroidery’ (2020, written with Alison Larkin). She is Patron of the Jane Austen Society Kent Branch and previously worked at Chawton House.
Jennie’s journey to Austen shares characteristics with many fans and readers. She first fell in love with Austen when she was nine years old, having seen the 1940 version of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ on film starring Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier. Then, for her 10th birthday, she received an illustrated edition of the complete novels.
In 2002, Jennie had the chance to work on her post-doctoral fellowship at the Chawton House Library in Hampshire. This pivotal centre of research and scholarship helped to shape Jennie’s approach to writing about Austen and her contemporary culture and society. She is now widely published on Austen’s life and her pursuits of domestic arts – especially needlework.
Jennie will be revealing the remarkable influence the Lady’s Magazine had on Jane Austen.
Gill Hornby, a talented writer and sister to renowned author Nick Hornby, has carved her own niche in the literary world with her captivating storytelling and keen insight into human nature. Born and raised in England, Gill developed a love for literature from an early age, inspired by the works of classic authors such as Jane Austen.
Drawing upon her deep appreciation for Austen’s novels, Gill embarked on her writing journey, infusing her own stories with the wit, charm, and social commentary reminiscent of Austen’s beloved works. Her novels skillfully weave together intricate plots, vivid characters, and subtle humor, inviting readers into richly imagined worlds filled with warmth and authenticity. In her writing, Gill pays homage to the timeless legacy of Jane Austen while carving out her own unique voice and perspective.
Gill’s debut novel, ‘The Hive’, garnered widespread acclaim for its insightful exploration of friendship, community, and the complexities of modern life. Set in a small English village, the novel follows the lives of a diverse group of women who are brought together by their children’s school activities, revealing the intricacies of their relationships and the power of female solidarity.
In her subsequent works, including ‘All Together Now’ and ‘Miss Austen’, Gill continued to demonstrate her talent for crafting compelling narratives that resonate with readers on a deeply emotional level. ‘All Together Now’ delves into the world of choral singing, exploring themes of harmony, passion, and the transformative power of music, while ‘Miss Austen’ offers a fictionalised account of the relationship between Jane Austen and her sister Cassandra, shedding new light on the life of the beloved author.
Gill’s writing is characterised by its depth of emotion, keen observations of human behavior, and evocative prose, earning her a dedicated following of readers who are drawn to her insightful storytelling and richly drawn characters. With each new novel, Gill reaffirms her status as a literary talent to be reckoned with, earning critical acclaim and solidifying her place in the pantheon of contemporary authors.
Beyond her work as a novelist, Gill is also a respected journalist and commentator, contributing articles to publications such as The Times and The Telegraph.
Dr Leigh Wetherall Dickson is an Associate Professor at Northumbria University. In December 2006, she joined Northumbria as the Leverhulme Research Associate for the three-year project ‘Before Depression: Representation and Culture of the English Malady, 1660-1800’, and since then has become a full-time lecturer in eighteenth and nineteenth-century English Literature. In 2015, she enjoyed a Chawton House Fellowship, living alongside the Austen-Knight homes and working in the library at the great house. Her publications include an edited collection of the ‘Works of Lady Caroline Lamb‘ (2009) and the provocatively titled ‘Disease and Death in the Eighteenth Century’ (2016).
As a child, Leigh was a precocious reader who loved Austen. However, she did not fully engage with the study of her novels until years later when she discovered the works of Lady Caroline Lamb. These seemingly dissimilar women, one the daughter of a clergyman and the other the aristocratic mistress of a famous poet, helped to shine a light on the variety and excitement of the Regency period.
Leigh was astounded to find that Austen and Lamb both engaged with the Regency “as an extraordinarily self-conscious moment of change and speculative uncertainty,” that “is made fascinatingly distinct by a restless energy all of its own.” She was particularly interested in the relationships between fashion, gambling, and sociability.
Leigh will be giving a fascinating interrogation of the Regency through the prism of Austen’s characters and the games they liked to play.
A native of Jane Austen’s Hampshire, Zoe Wheddon brings sympathy and insight to her biographies dealing with real-life characters that moved in Austen’s orbit. Her passion for research into the novelist’s life and times allows her to shine a light on Austen’s background and her many influences.
Zoe’s first Austen-related biography, ‘Jane Austen’s Best Friend: The Life and Influence of Martha Lloyd’ draws attention to Martha, an often-overlooked figure, and highlights the life-changing importance that this friendship held for Austen. Published in 2021, it was described by historian Lucy Worsley as a “glorious celebration of the author and her friendship” with companion and housekeeper Martha.
The relationships in Austen’s inner circle deserve some scrutiny and greater understanding because of the role they play in her fiction. Zoe’s mission as a writer is to look beneath the surface and interpret the evidence on record to draw an intimate portrait of the novelist’s world.
Zoe’s second work, ‘Jane Austen Daddy’s Girl: The Life and Influence of the Revd. George Austen’ was published in 2024. This book weaves together a father-daughter biography with, according to writer Natalie Jenner, “palpable affection’ and ‘illuminating detail.” Austen expert, Professor Devoney Looser, reflects on how George Austen’s influence is “often understated”. “That’s why,” she adds, “‘Jane Austen Daddy’s Girl’ is such a brilliant book, weaving archival evidence into an illuminating, enjoyable read.”
Fans and readers feel that they know Austen so well thanks to her tone and narrative style. She draws us in, and we believe we can identify the real person, the friend, the daughter through her fiction. Zoe sifts the information and shows us why we encounter the author the way we do. As Devoney Looser remarks, “Zoe Wheddon’s father-daughter biography is a welcome wonder of both research and storytelling.”
Dr. Moira Rudolf is an expert Walking Tour Guide in Bath. She originally qualified as an Art Historian with a degree from the University of Manchester before going on to study Architectural History at the Courtauld Institute. She gained her PhD on the Work of Thomas Harrison of Chester [Architect] 1744-1829; the man who introduced the Greek revival to the Northwest of England.
Moira’s particular passion is for the eighteenth and nineteenth century architecture of Bath, and her expertise is second to none. She made the city her home in 1999 and has led tours ever since, appearing regularly at the Jane Austen Festival. On a visit as a five-year-old child, the surroundings of the city drew her in and the works and wit of Austen have only added to her fascination and desire to share her interests with audiences.
Moira, who likes to meet her groups dressed in period Regency costume, bases her walking tours on various themes. In the ‘Jane Austen’s Footsteps’ guided walks, for example, she contrasts Austen’s two ‘Bath’ novels ‘Northanger Abbey’ and ‘Persuasion’ and brings the author’s view of the city to life, while in ‘Jane Austen and the Pleasure Garden,’ she explores the social scene. Using her collection of historical illustrations and prints, she takes visitors back in time to the site of firework displays, concerts, and The Sydney Tap public house using her research to reveal the hidden histories of the city.
Sarah Jane Downing is a historian and writer who has looked in depth at women’s dress and fashion from the Tudor period through to the Regency. Recently she co-founded the Historical Cosmetics Society to study and share information on how people have enhanced their looks over the centuries. Her current research takes her into every corner of the textile and cosmetic world, and she writes about these topics for Selvedge magazine. Her books include ‘The English Pleasure Garden 1660-1860’, ‘Fashion in the Time of Jane Austen‘, ‘Beauty and Cosmetics 1550-1950′, and ‘Fashion in the Time of William Shakespeare’.
As a teenager, Sarah Jane spent “every moment out of school – and sometimes in – in a whorl of romantic and historical novels.” She soon discovered Jane Austen and, while her friends mooned over the fictional heroes, Sarah Jane was more interested in getting to know the heroines, imagining what it would be like to – literally – walk in their shoes. What were their fashions and footwear like – how high, how beautiful? What else would they wear?
Screen adaptations were also key influences, particularly the 1995 BBC adaption of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and the 1996 film of ‘Sense and Sensibility’ with its portrayal of the Dashwood sisters.
A retired teacher, Alison Larkin lectures and conducts workshops on historic embroidery. She is particularly interested in work on domestic articles, dress, and costume from the Georgian period. She is also co-author of ‘Jane Austen Embroidery’ (2020) with Professor Jennie Batchelor. She is a devoted fan of Jane Austen, especially ‘Mansfield Park’ and ‘Persuasion’, and loves the adaptations for the costumes.
Alison Larkin’s life is steeped in her experience with embroidery. She learned from an early age and returned to the craft to de-stress when she was a college tutor.
When she took redundancy from full-time teaching, she started to work on embroidery full-time, beginning with a huge challenge – a project to recreate a waistcoat which had originally been stitched for Captain Cook by his wife Elizabeth. The original was never completed as Cook was killed in Hawaii, and the project was to make a replica, and complete it, for exhibition in the Captain Cook Memorial Museum in Whitby. This took Alison into Georgian embroidery and she soon realised that there were few people researching this aspect of the history of embroidery or textiles. Believing that we will lose the skills if we are not careful, Alison now adapts Georgian techniques and materials and finds corresponding twenty-first century equivalents.
Alison will be leading needlecraft workshops, teaching participants to decorate items with authentic designs beloved by Austen and her family.
Dr. Gabrielle Malcolm, Creative Director for Jane Austen Celebration
Gabrielle Malcolm was awarded a PhD in English Literature of the 19th century by the University of Kent in 2005. Her interests have always been in women’s writing of the last three hundred years, and particularly in how both famous and forgotten women writers influenced the rise of the English novel.
No other writer was more instrumental in the development of what we know as the modern novel than Jane Austen. Gabrielle’s first edited work on the novelist Fan Phenomena: Jane Austen, is a collection of essays and interviews that covers the range of fan culture arising from the immense and growing popularity of Austen works and adaptations. She covered everything from fan fiction and crossover stories to the popular Youtube series ‘The Lizzie Bennet Diaries’. With contributions from novelists and scriptwriters, this collection looks at the way in which the 1995 BBC ‘Pride and Prejudice’ adaptation has influenced the growth of fan culture online.
Gabrielle’s second non-fiction book, There’s Something About Darcy (Lume, 2020) took the story of Austen’s popularity a step further with a deep dive on her most popular male character. Where once the male characters in the novels took second place to her heroines, the ascendence of Darcy witnessed a shift and an increase of interest in Austen’s portrayals of men. Included in this book are some exclusive insights from Simon Langton, director of the 1995 BBC adaptation, as well as extensive research into Austen’s influences and the position of her hero in popular culture.
Gabrielle has also been interviewed on radio (for Radio 3’s ‘The Verb’) about Austen and television, on Channel 5’s ‘In Jane Austen’s Footsteps’ with Gyles Brandreth and is a regular speaker and presenter at the Jane Austen Festival in Bath and the Regency Week in Hampshire. Recently, she has been ‘In Conversation’ with Susannah Harker in Bath, talking about the actor’s role as Jane Bennet.
